Fan assembly

• US 10,094,392 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Poulton, Roy Edward, Davis, Alan Howard, Hodgetts, Joseph Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertheaud, Peter J
• Assistant Examiner(s): KASTURE, DNYANESH G
• Application Number:
  US13/683,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20130323100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,148 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/06 the pump being electrically driven F04D25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/08 the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/002 by varying geometry within the pumps, e.g. by adjusting vanes
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/522 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/54 Fluid-guiding means, e.g. diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 5/16 displacing elastic fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 5/46 Arrangements of nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/065 fan combined with single duct; mounting arrangements of a fan in a duct

Abstract

A nozzle for a fan assembly includes an air inlet, an air outlet, an interior passage for conveying air from the air inlet to the air outlet, an annular inner wall, and an outer wall extending about the inner wall. The interior passage is located between the inner wall and the outer wall. The inner wall at least partially defines a bore through which air from outside the nozzle is drawn by air emitted from the air outlet. A flow control port is located downstream from the air outlet. A flow control chamber is provided for conveying air to the flow control port. A control mechanism selectively inhibits a flow of air through the flow control port to deflect an air flow emitted from the air outlet.

Claims

1. A nozzle for a fan assembly, the nozzle comprising:

an air inlet;

an air outlet for emitting an air flow;

an interior passage for conveying air from the air inlet to the air outlet;

an annular inner wall;

an outer wall extending about the inner wall, the interior passage being located between the inner wall and the outer wall, the inner wall at least partially defining a bore, having a bore axis, through which air from outside the nozzle is drawn by air emitted from the air outlet;

a first guide surface and a second guide surface both located downstream from the air outlet, wherein the first guide surface is angled away from the bore axis and the second guide surface is angled towards the bore axis;

a flow control port located downstream from the air outlet;

a flow control chamber for conveying air to the flow control port, wherein the flow control chamber is located in front of the interior passage and the interior passage and the flow control chamber are separated by a wall that extends between the annular inner wall and the outer wall; and

a control for selectively inhibiting a flow of air through the flow control port such that a profile of the air flow emitted from the fan assembly varies between a flow directed towards the bore axis and a flow directed away from the bore axis.

2. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the air outlet is arranged to direct an air flow over the first guide surface or second guide surface.

3. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the flow control port is arranged to direct an air flow over the first guide surface or second guide surface.

4. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the first guide surface or second guide surface is curved.

5. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the first guide surface or second guide surface is convex in shape.

6. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the first guide surface or second guide surface extends at least partially about an axis of the bore.

7. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the first guide surface or second guide surface surrounds an axis of the bore.

8. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the flow control chamber is located in front of the interior passage.

9. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the interior passage surrounds the bore of the nozzle.

10. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the air outlet extends at least partially about the bore.

11. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the air outlet has a curved section extending about the bore of the nozzle.

12. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the air outlet is in the form of a slot.

13. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the control has a first state for inhibiting the passage of air through the flow control chamber, and a second state for permitting the passage of air through the flow control chamber.

14. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the control comprises a valve body for occluding an air inlet of the flow control chamber, and an actuator for moving the valve body relative to the air inlet.

15. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the flow control chamber extends at least partially about the bore axis.

16. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the flow control chamber surrounds the bore.

17. A fan assembly comprising an impeller, a motor for rotating the impeller to generate an air flow, the nozzle of claim 1 for receiving the air flow, and a controller for controlling the motor.

18. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the controller is arranged to adjust automatically the speed of the motor when the control is operated by a user.